Mortised matrix and assembling means therefor



y 0, 1935. H. R. FREUND 2,009,982

MORTISED MATRIX AND ASSEMBLING MEANS THEREFOR Filed 001:. 26, 1934' INVENTOR -6%;EEMHNR FI QEUND ATTORNEY Patented July 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORTISED MATRIX AND ASSEMBLING MEANS THEREFOR Herman R. Freund, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor-to Intertype Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 26,

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in character bearing matrices of the class commonly employed in casting type bars or slugs for use in printing, matrices of this kind and employed for this purpose being usually assembled side by side in line formation and thenclamped endwise to assure metal type contact of the engaging side faces of their bodies, preparatory to their presentation with their character bearing edges alined, to the front of a suitable mold into which molten type metal is forcibly injected for casting the type bars or slugs.

More particularly, the invention provides certain improvements which facilitate the assembly of such matrices into a line so that the characters cast therefrom will present a typographical appearance commensurate with the requiredstandards of good printing, particularly with respect to properly proportioned space between the char acters, regardless of their shape or style or they language which they represent.

In order to enable the present invention to be readily understood, certain conditions and facts which give rise to the invention may be set forth. It is well known that in any font of type the capital letters A, T, V, ;Y and W are unbalanced, that is they are wider at both sides atone end (top or bottom) than at the other end. Letters such as P, F, L and J are wider only at one side at one end than at the. other end. The remaining letters of the font are'balanced or equal as to their width at top and bottom, such as the letters B, D, S, R, etc. It follows, therefore, that when in print a widetop letter stands beside a wide-bottomletter (such as an A next to a W or an L next to a T), suchletters will be separated both at top and bottom a distance appreciably greater than that separating adjacent square letters (such as B, D, S, R, etc.) which are balanced or of equal width at top and bottom.

It has been previously proposed to overcome such an inartistic appearance, which is particularly conspicuous and objectional in the larger type size used in display lines, by mortising the bodies of individually cast pieces of hand type from which printing was to be done directly. In that instance it was proposed to recess the body portions of types having unbalancedlet'ters at one or both sides from the middle of the letter height to the upper or lower end of the body, according to which end carries the wide portion of the letter, the recesses constituting mortises to permit the bodies of adjacent wide-top and wide-bottom letters to overlap and thus bring 1934, Serial No. 750,188 (01. 199- -66) the letters themselves as close together as adjacent square or balanced letters. However, the oppositely disposed recesses at the adjacent sides of mostised hand type having letters both of which are wide at the same end (top or bottom) would produce a gap or opening 'betweenthe type bodies'either above or below their abuttingportions. 9

Should the mortising of individual hand. type in such manner be applied to matrices against 10 which type bars or slugs are to be cast after the matrices are assembled into lines and presented to a mold, the gaps or openings between adjacent side faces resulting from the recesses would be A objectionable because it is essential that the side 15 faces of adjacent matrices abut at leastfor a distance somewhat greater than the full heigth of the characters punchedtin their edges in order to provide a metal type closureatthe frontof the mold.

To avoid suchobjectionable openings and. enable unbalanced letters (those requiring mortises) to stand on either side of a square or balanced letter and in any relative position with respect to one anothena .font of matrices ordinarily 25 would have to include a large number of additional mortisedmatrices- Thus besides the usual full font of fiat-sided matrices for the lower case and capital letters and the figures and points,

three additional mortised matrices wouldbere- 30,

quired for each of the letters' A, T,,V, Y and W, amounting to fifteen additional matrices; one additional'mortised matrix for each of the letters P, V., L and VJ amounting to four additional matrices; and one additional mor- 5 tised matrix for each :of the lower case letters a! e, 0,7, u, Mr", S y to seven additional matrices, it being obvious that these lower case letters willfrequently follow a mortised wide-top capital letter; .The total num- 0 ber of additional matrices that would be required on this basis is twenty-six, and since each letter of the alphabet in any font is duplicated several times to provide a sufficient number of letters available for ordinary composition even a small 5:

or so-called short font would contain many more matrices, for example four of each of the twentysix additional mortised matrices or a total of one hundred and four, thanat present, if the mere expedient of mortising were employed.

Apart from the resulting increase in cost of matrix fonts built on such a plan, it will be apparent that confusion would be likely to result in selecting from the several styles of mortised matrices contained in such fonts those carrying the proper complementary mortises to assemble with adjacent mortised matrices, and in distributing the matrices to their proper places of storage.

The primary object of the present invention is to enable the practice of mortising to be employed wherever necessary without necessarily increasing the number of matrices in a font or increasing the cost of the font and without causing confusion in selecting, assembling and dis tributing matrices. To accomplish this object, it is proposed to substitute a mortised matrix for each of the usual straight or flat-sided matrices carrying letters requiring mortising. Thus matrices in the font bearing the letters A, T, V, Y and W will be double mortised or mortised at both sides, and matrices bearing the letters P, F, u, J, an, en, 1 nun u n SH and "y will be single mortised or mortised at one side only. To enable assembly of such mortised matrices with straight-sided ones bearing square or balanced letters, oradjacent to one another in such varying relations or combinations as they will occur in composing different words, it is proposed to provide cooperating filler or conversion blocks of suchstructure that they may be assembledin linesalong with the matrices in any order or arrangement required. The style of mortise employed is also a feature of the invention since it has a direct relationship with the assembly and functioning of the filler or conversion blocks.

The invention is shown, for purposes of illustration, as I it would apply to matrices of the variety commonly employedin line composing machines, except that the usual combination teeth are not shown and these teeth may or may not be present, these matrices having upper and lower alining lugs or cars projecting from opposite edges at top and bottom and an intaglio type forming character in one edge. It is to be understood however that the invention is not limited to matrices of any particular form nor to matrices bearing characters of any particular style or length, since it may be applied in any case where itis desired to obtain overlapping of characters that are unbalanced in shape and/or assembly of such characters adjacent to balanced ones, or in fact, wherever it may be necessary or.

desirable to adjust the spacing or separation between characters to modify their typographical arrangement or appearance in print.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a double mortised matrix as'for letters like A, wider atone end than at the other end, the widened portions extending outwardly at both sides, and cooperative filler blocks, according to the present invention, one filler block being shown applied to' one side'face of the matrix and another filler block being shown lifted. away from the opposite face of the matrix to show the form of the mortise;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the matrix shown in Fig; 1 with a filler block appliedto one one side face thereof;

Figure'3 is an elevation of a single mortised matrix as for letters like P, Wider at one end than at the other end, the widening extending outwardly only at one side, a filler block suitable for such a matrix being shown projected at one side thereof;

Figure 4 is an elevation of a single mortised matrix for lower case letters like the letter a, wider at one end than at the other, the widening extending outwardly only at one side;

, Figure 5 is an elevation. of .a straight or flat sided matrix as usual for square or balanced letters such as the letter D;

Figure 6 is a cross-section taken horizontally through the matrix shown in Fig. 2, on the line 66 in that figure;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of an alternative form of mortised matrix for a letter like L or J, wide at the bottom and one side only, and a filler block for such matrix;

Figure 8 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 7 but showing the matrix mortised for a letter like F or P, wide at the top at one side only, and a filler block for such matrix;

Figure 8a is an edge View of the matrix shown in Fig. 8; and Figure 9 is an end view thereof; and

Figures 10, 11, and 12 are front elevations of groups or lines of matrices assembled with the filler blocks according to the present invention.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the different figures.

In the accompanying drawing the matrices, it is to be understood are shown in upside-down or inverted position as compared with their usual position in a line while a cast is being made therefrom, in order that the characters borne by the matrices may be more readily recognized.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the matrix M having the letter A punched in its front edge I has a body portion 2 or less width than the full width of the bottom of the letter A by an amount corresponding to the extension beyond the parallel side faces 3 and 4 of the projections 5 of the front and back edges of the matrix body. The reduced width of the body portion 1 is produced by mortising or recessing the side faces 3 and 4, as hereinafter explained, after the letter A is punched in the front edge.

The matrix M in Figs. 1 and 2 is representative of others in the same font bearing the letters T, V, Yv and v' except that, as commonly known, the body width between the parallel side faces 3 and 4 will be in proportion to the width of different letters. In other words, although the width'of the bodyportion 2 varies as usual to suit the particular character, the projections 5 extend beyond'the parallel side faces an equal amount in every instance in order to permit the adjacent side faces of the matrices when assembled toabut over the full height of the letters on the front edges of the matrices.

Similarly, the matrix M in Fig. 3 is representative of those matrices in the font bearing the letters P, F, L and J, these matrices being mortised only in the one side face adjacent to the unbalanced body of the particular letter, so

that the projections 5 occur only at one side. Likewise the matrix M in Fig. 4 is representative of those matrices .in the font bearing the lower case tt n, n w no, n n u n a and y, and resemble the matrix 1 except for the vertical location of the projections 5.

According to the present invention, after punching the character. in the front edge of the matrix, which, as usual, has a body of substantially the same width at all points as that of the widest part of the character, the matrices bearing unbalanced capital letters and the lower case letters previously mentioned have their side face 01' faces mortised or recessed the same amount in everyinstance to reduce their body width uniformly. Projections 5 however are retained adjacent to the front and back edges.

underlying apart of the width of the unbalanced character and extending vertically from the middle point 6 in the height of the character, up-

wardly or downwardly as the case maybe, an equal distance, but terminating short of the top end of the matrix as at l in Figs. 2 and 4 or the bottom end of the matrix as at -8 in Fig. 3, viewing the matrices in their usual upright position.

It will thus be evident that the projections 5 on the side faces 3 and 4 respectively of the matrices M, M and M provide complementary mortises which, when these matrices are assembled adjacent to one another, enable the wide portions of the letters to overhang to such extent that the lettersstand closer together than would be possible if the side faces were not mortised, and the side faces of the adjacent matricesco-ntact over the full height of the letters to form the required metal tight closure between the matrices.

The uniform vertical extent of the projections 55' and the stopping of theseprojections short of either end of the matrices enables the employment of the cooperating filler or conversion blocks 9 provided by the present invention. As shown, the blocks 9 have the configuration or outline of the matrix in all respects except for slots l0 and I l which are provided in the narrow edges thereof, these slots being of a size and shape to receive or accommodate the projections 5 at the front and rear edges of the matrices when the blocks areplaced against their 'side faces. Since the projections 5 occur toward the-top or the bottom end; the matrices, according to the location of the wide portion of the character thereon, filler blocks having correspondingly located slots I6 and H are provided as indicated at 9 in Figs. 1 and 2 for matrices bearing the letters A, L or J, which are wide at the bottom and/or the lower case letters previously mentioned, and at in, Fig. 3, for the letters P, F", W, V, Y" or T which are wide at the top. 7

The filler blocks thus constitute means for con- Verting' matrices having mortised or recessed side faces into matrices with fiat sides suitable for assembling adjacent to the flat sided matrices in the font bearing square or balanced letters, such as the matrix M in Fig. 5. This is clearly indicated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 wherein the filler blocks 9 and enable matrices bearing balanced and unbalanced letters to be assembled in various relations with respect to one another. The cooperating complementary mortises permit overlapping of adjacent wide top and wide bottom letters and provide contact between adjacent mortised side faces over the full height of the letters, and the filler blocks serve to fill out the sides of the mortised matrices in such manner that when assembled with fiat sided matrices there are no gaps or openings between them as will be clear from these figures.

Assembly of the filler blocks 9 or 9 with the matrices is materially facilitated by the style of mortise employed. By providing the projections 5 both at the front and rear edges of the matrices only to such depth at the sides as to insure necessary strength, and terminating these projections short of the top and bottom ends of the matrices, these projections serve as locating and retaining means for the filler blocks during assembly of a line of matrices, While the line is being conveyed to the slug casting mold, and during the casting and distributing operations. This arrangement of the projections 5 also enables the filler blocks to carry upper and lower ears I2 and I3 corresponding to those on the matrices so that the filler blocks have alining means thereon corresponding to the alining means on the matrices. Accordingly, when the assembled line is justified in the usual manner prior to casting, by lifting of the matrices in the line by. their upper ears, the filler blocks will also be lifted by their upper ears, so that the shoulders M on the projections will be forcibly engaged by the cooperating walls '5 of theslots Ill and ll in the filler blocks to form metal tightjointsh i Figs. 7, 8, 8a and 9 shown a modifiedform of the invention wherein the projections 5 at the sides of the front and back edges of the matrices bearing unbalanced letters extend vertically from themidmoint in the height of the capital letters upwardly or downwardly to the end of the matrix body and are undercut at an angle, as at 5 along their vertical opposed surfaces adjacent to the side face of the matrix M or M Filler blocks I5 and 15 provided with angular edges engage the undercut faces S of. the projections on these matrices and are appliedby sliding them into place until their shoulders I5 and I5 abut against the shoulders M and N respectively of the pro jections on these matrices. A slot [6 is preferably provided in eachof these filler blocks to permit a yield to occur when the block is inserted between the front and rear projections -on the respective matrix so that the block will be held frictio-nally against'endwise displacement,it being evident that since this form of filler block does not have alining ears both at the top and bottom,

endwise displacement would result in opening the 0 joint between the shoulders i 4 and 5 or M and I5 and allow metal to enter therebetween during the casting operation. In this embodiment of the invention, the projections 5 accommodate the overhanging portions of the unbalanced letters, the projections on the opposite side sof different matrices being complemental so that when assembled adjacent to one another the-wide portions of the letters will overhang and the side faces of the matrices will contact over their full height to form the required metal tight closure, and the filler blocks are of a thickness equal to the'depth of the mortises' in these matrices so that when applied thereto they will fill out the sides thereof so that when assembled along with fiat-sided matrices, no gaps or openings will be left between the matrices.

The filler block according to the present invention is adapted to fit against the side of a matrix mortised in accordance with the present invention so as to fill out the mortise therein without increasing the set-wise or body thickness of the matrix, thus avoiding any increase in the space between adjacent letters.

I claim:

1. A font of character bearing matrices having parallel side faces some of which are flat and other of which are recessed on their side faces to form projections at one or both sides to support the widened portions of characters unbalanced in form, said projections being of uniform vertical extent over a part only of the width of the side faces and terminating short of the top or bottom ends ofthe matrices.

2. A font of matrices according to claim 1, including filler blocks having the configuration of the matrices and provided with slots to cooperate with the projections on the side faces of the matrices.

3. A font of matrices according to claim 1, including means having the configuration of the matrices and of the projections at the sides of recessed matrices for converting the side faces of recessed matrices to fiat surfaces forcooperation with the fiat side faces of unrecessed matrices in the font when such matrices are assembled adjacent to one another.

4. A font of matrices according to claim 1, in-, cluding filler blocks for converting the side faces of recessed matrices to flat surfaces, said filler blocks having retaining means engageable with the projections on the side faces of therecessed matrices and having the configuration of the matrices except for the portion thereof engaging said projections.

5. A font of character bearing matrices according to claim 1, including means for assembling side by side flat and recessed matrices of the font, said means being shaped to form a continuous closed joint between the adjacent side faces of the assembled matrices.

6. A font of character bearing matrices having parallel sides some of which are fiatand other of which have pairs of projections extending outwardly therefrom at one or both sides, adjacent the character bearing edge to support the widened portions of characters on said edge and adjacent the edge opposite thereto, said projections being of less width than the width of the sides of the matrices to form a recess between them and terminating short of at least one end of the matrices.

7. A character bearing matrix having parallel sides one or both of which arev recessed to form projections at one'or both sides to support the widened portions of characters unbalanced in form, said projections extending over a part only of the width of the sides of the matrix and terminating short of the top or bottom ends thereof.

'8. A character bearing matrix having parallel sides one or both of which have pairs of projections extending outwardly therefrom for a part only of the width of the sides and adjacent to the character bearing edge of the matrix and the edge opposite thereto, said projections terminating short of the top and bottom ends of the matrix.

9. In combination, a font of character bearing matrices having parallel sides some of which are fiat and other of which have projections extending outwardly therefrom at one or both sides adjacent to the character bearing edge of the matrices to support the widened portions of characters on said edge, said projections being of less width at their sides than the sides of the matrices and terminating short of the top and bottom ends of the matrices, filler blocks having the configuration of the matrices and provided with slots in their edges to cooperate with the projections on the sides of the matrices, said filler blocks being equal in thickness to the extent outwardly of said projections from the sides of the matrices.

10. In combination, a font of character bearing matrices having parallel sides some of which are flat and other of which have projections ex-- tending outwardly therefrom at one or both sides adjacent to the character bearing edge of the matrices to support the widened portions of characters on said edge, said projections being of less width at their sides than the sides of the matrices and terminating short of the top or bottom ends of the matrices according to the position of the widened portions of the character which they support, and filler blocks of the same width as the sides of the matrices but provided with recesses in their edges to cooperate with the pro jections on said sides, said filler blocks being equal in thickness to the extent outwardly of said projections from the sides of the matrices.

11. In combination, a font of character bearing matrices having parallel sides some of which are flat and other of which have pairs of projections extending outwardly therefrom at one or both sides adjacent to the character bearing edge and the edge opposite thereto, and filler blocks of the same width as the sides of the matrices and having means to engage the projections on the sides of the matrices and being equal in thickness to the extent outwardly of said pro jections from said sides.

HERMAN R. FREUND. 

